Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-02-11

neer Pierce chopped vainly at the impris-
oning timbers. The fire was torturing
the confined man before the work with
the axe was abandoned. In last des-
perate effort Pierce seized the conductor
by the shoulders, and with a tremendous
wrench got him free. The suffering
mans clothes were on fire, and Pierce
extinguished the flames with snow. He
then dragged his badly-iniured fellow
employe to place of safety and started
to the aid of others. Several more he
succeeded in getting from the wreck
with more or less difficulty.
Meantime the force of rescuers had
been increased by the arrival of one or
two farmers and the aid of half-crippled
men, who had themselves been dragged
from the ruins. The situation of those
remaining in the wreck had by this time
become desperate and almost hopeless.
One by one the agonizing cries of the dy-
ing were being stilled by the fast-ad-
vancing flames. The fire had communi-
Gated to the bridge above, and that long
structure was a mass of flames, and fall
ing timbers added to the danger of the
work of rescue. Men never worked with
more unselfish desperation. The very
horror of the situation half paralyzed
their efforts, and the bitter cold numbed
the half-clad bodies of many of the res
cuers. 1t seemed as though nearly all
remaining in the wreck lived until the
flames reached them. Indeed the mercy
of instant death came to few of those
who perished, while the suffering of those
who survive were scarcely less great.
Within half an hour after the first crash
the work of rescue had ended, for none
remained alive who could possibly be
reached
INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES.
A number of those who went down on
the train have related their experiences
to reporters. We have room for but a
few of them. Charles l.. Hosmer of
Lowell, Mass. who was in one of the
>leepers. said: 81 can remember 81 9th
ers who were in the car with me. There
were five ladies among them. was
awakened by the humping of the car
Then came the crash and all was dark
ness and confusion. do not remember
hearing any screaming. but there were
mOans and calls for help. found my
self pinned down by a seat which lay
across my hips, but broke the window
and in some way, cannot tell how
worked myself out to the ice. shoulC
think the car dropped about 80 feet. The
other three cars were also on the ice
having broken away from the forwarC
part of the train. My clothing, with tn
exception of two shirts and my socks
was torn from me in getting out. los
everything else that | had with me. !
gentleman who occupied the berth mex
to mine was struggling in the ruins ant
! succeeded in eXtricating him. Their
was lady in the ruins underneath m
whom we succeeded in saving, but sh
was almost naked when we had take
her out. 1t was necessary to tear he
clothing off to get her out. She prove
to be Mrs. Pryden of Montreal. In
few moments after the crash the car
took fire and amid the seething flame
which leaped up to the bridge and illunl
mated the valley for a long distance thos
who were unable to escape could be see
in the embrace of death. | cannot, eve
now, realize the terrible aspect of tn
! last scene. When the flames burst out
could see the imprisoned passengers ei
ther calling for help or insensible.
walked, or rather crawled, to hous
where got some clothing. Out of tn
, ~ in my car know that nine at leas
: were saved
One of the very narrow escapes wa
that of Albin b. Veazey, son of Judg
Veazey of Rutland, who is student il
Dartmouth college. He and his room
mate, Edward +. Dillon of Springfield
VT, who was killed, took a lower bert
in the New York sleeper, near the from
of the car, at White River Junction, an
had but just turned in when the acciden
| occurred. The Rutland Herald says
| among the first dispatches received i
Rutland was one that he sent to hi
father, announcing his safety, and pun
| pose to reach home last evening. Late
it was learned that he was somewhat il
, jured and when the train arrived at 90
last evening he was met by his parent
, and DR.. Mead at the crossing near tn
scale works and taken directly home, i
, order that he might speedily receive tn
! care he needed and be relieved from pres
sing importantly to tell the story of tn
/ calamity. From one gentleman wit
, whom he conversed on the train, an
from another who saw him at his home
the following story has been CLEANED a
well as possible The sharp lurch of tn
car was the first thing noticed, and he re
, ol;1ad tbut II uaS off tho traoL n;llo